Corner bead gauge and plumb



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Apr1l'16, 1957 w. G. ANGLE 2,788,653

CORNER BEAD GAUGE: AND PLUMB Filed March 31, 1954 2 SheetsfSheet l I I dN I@ .WwW/@|18 April 16,' 1957 w. G. ANGLE 2,788,653

CORNER BEAD GAUGE AND PLUME IN VENTOR United States Patent l CORNER:BEAD ,GAUGE AN-DfPLUMB wallace'G. Angle; Rocky Mount, Va.

ApplicatlonMarch:31,1954, 'SerialNm 420,152 scnims. (Clin-12s) Thisinvention .relates to `an instrument for use yas a -lcombinationgaugefandt-plumb :forapplying comer i pieces do walls with fthe beadsthereof spaced a.proper;d1stance from arpartially completed -wallcorner.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present-,invention to. provide acorner bead .gauge and plumb by -rneans of which cornerpieces canbequic-kly appliedfto'cornersof -partially completed Walls with thebeads `thereof accurately positioned from top to bottom Vof the .wallvcorner in a vertical position and uniformly'spaced `from :the par-,tially: completed wall cor-ner.

`Another .object of [the invention is 4tog-provide such `an instrumentwhich is sozconstructed that two corner pieces can `be`simultaneouslylplaced, as forexarnple in locating the corner pieces foran archway `ory wall opening.

A further objectfof the 4inventionis to .provide an in- ;'strument-ofthe aforedeseribed character which may be Jadditionallyused as asquareandglevel.

.Qther objects and advantages ofthe inventionwill hereinafter becomemorey fully lapparent from Athe following description of the drawings,:illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and .-wherein:

Figure 11 is a top plan `View :showing the gauge `in an l"appliedposition fortsimultaneouslypositioning twocorner pieces;

Figure 2 is a 4fragmentary .toplplan viewof the gauge `shown adjustedforlpositioning -asingle corner, piece;

-Eigure 3 isan endelevational viewof the-gaugelooking Figure 4 is anenlarged sectional viewtakentransversely 'through the Shorterarrn'ofrthe gauge, substantially along :a plane asfindicatedfby thefline4-4of Figure l;

.Figure 5 is 1an Venlarged .sectional viewrtaken-suibstantially along aplane astindicated by the line '5-5 of Fig- `ure l;

`Figure 6 is *a `plan viewof oneelement of the y.gauge shown removedfrom the complete instrument;

Figure 7 is an `enlarged `sectional vewrtaken longitudi- .rnally througha portion of the shorter gauge arm, substantially along a plane asindicated bythe line -7--7 of Figure .1, `and Figure -8 isla`fragmentaryplan view of a portion of the square forming the frame ofthe gauge with removable parts thereofdetached.

Referring more Vspecifically to the drawings, the` corner bead gauge andplumb in its entirety and'comprising the invention is designatedgenerally lil and includes a square, designated generally 1l, having arelatively Vlong arm 12 and a vshorter arm 13. The arms 12 and 13 are ofopenwork construction, as clearly .illustrated in Figure 4l, and have-outer edges 14 and 15, respectively, forming afright angle andwhichmerge at the apex-of the `frame or square 1-1. Said outer edges`14, and :15 are provided with graduations forming linear scales 16, asillustrated'in Figure 3 which are numberedoutwardlyalongsaid arms 12 and13 from theapex 1'7 ofthe frame. The `upper surfaces of Athearms `12 and13 alongtheir outer'e'dges 14=and15 are .providedwitn similar linear,scales E18.

.ly-engages'a recess Sil-inthe bed :ofthechannel 26. `gaugelbar `27 isslidably movable `inthe `cl1annel26,when fthe `screw 29 Vis loosened, indirections ginwardly -or out- Patented Apr. 16, 1957 fice ,l2 Thelongerarm 12 has ari-:inner,edgerportionl :disposed parallel toits `outertedge14andfextendingi'from:its `outer `end to` a point spaced from vtheinnerend` of :the LAarm -1-2, from which1pointttherinneredge 19` isbowedainwa-rdly :as seen at20zto providearecessedzbightjportionlzl. TheJinner edge portion .22 .of `.the `shorter farm. I3 is disposedvparallel to theouten edge 151thereo'f andaslaterallyspaced Vfromsaidedge l'aidistancelessthan vthe spacinghetween the outer'erlgeManddnnereed'ge 19 fofrth'e longerrarmfll The edge 22,merges Vlwiththerecessed bight portion 21 .of the 4arm 12. at. apoint` formingan.apexoriintersectingfpoint between the .-edge portion .22.;and a linetw-hich would-sextend parallel between the outer zand inner -tedges ..14:and 19of1he longer'arm 12.

rlhe'longer arm l12,-between .its ledges =14rand 19,: is of openworl:construction and Vcontains two conventional spirit levels 23 and 240ithe :type wherein anairtbubble oats ina transparent rtube. Thelongitudinal axislof-the level` 23 lis disposed;longitudinally.ofthe`arm 12while11the longitudinal'axis` of the level 24 is disposedtransversely of said arm l2, the axes of both spirit level tubes beingldisposledinthetplane `of lthearm 12.

The .exact interior construction oflgthe y.arms 12fand=13 may be variedconsiderably as tothe openwork construc- Lan `oblique angleto-theaxesoffthe arms ll2and 13, ASaid ysolid intermediate'portion 25 isprovided witha relatively Wide groove-or channel 26 `thecenteriof'whichzintersects .with the apex .'17 and withftheiintersection fof -the .inner edge 22 and recessedbig'ht portion 21.AzbarZltorming `a ygauge element is slidably` mounted in `the groove -orchannel 26 and iis provided with -an elongated slot28 which is disposedvaxially vo'said bar. `The shank 0f a headed screw 29 loosely'engagessaidslotfrZSfa-nd threadedrEhe wardly relatively `to the apex of'thequare orfframe V11, and is retained against `lateral ortturninzgmovement .by engagement of its side edges withthe side walls of :the

channel26. The screw 29 can be tightened for clamping the gauge ,bark-27 between'the-screwhead and the `bed of the ychannel 26 yto retainsaid gauge bar in anyfdesired adjusted position. The upper side of`thegauge bar is provided with a linear scale preferablygraduated ineighths of an inch, as seen at `31,\which,functions with` an `index line'32 -located on afportionrof `tl1a. .upperside of `the frame 1l vto oneside `off the-channel y26. The inner A-endfofthe gauge bar 27.1'5defined by a V-shapednotch 33 the sides-of which `form a right angle,oneof which is disposed parallel with-the inner edge`19 of thelongyarm12 and `the other of which is disposed parallel with the inner edge 22of the short arrn 13. The outer armof the bar 27 forms a V-shapedtapered point 34, the -sides of which likewise form alright angle, oneiof `which is disposed `parallel to -the outer .edge 14 and theother ofwhich is disposedparallel to the outer edge 15. Bymovingthe bar 27 toits innermost position, so thatfthe outer end of the slot 28 isinvengagement with the shank of the screw 29, the sides `forming thepoint 34 will be'disposed ilushwith -theouter `edges 14 and 15 oftheframelll, .so that said :of .a headed screw 3,9 `loosely extends. `Thescrew.. 39

threadedly engages an opening 40 in the arm portion 35 and is adapted tobe tightened therein to adjustably clamp the slide bar 37, in the samemanner that the gauge bar 27 is clamped by the screw 29. The upper sideof the slide bar 37 is provided with a linear scale having graduationspreferably spaced one eighth of an inch apart and jwhich'scale 41functions with an indexing line 42 provided on the upper surface of thearm portion 35. The

slide bar 37 has its upper side recessed at its inner end, as seen inFigure 4, to accommodate an elongated longitudinal gauge bar 43 whichtits slidably in said recess 42 of the slide bar 37. The longitudinalgauge bar 43 has an elongated longitudinally extending slot 44 toslidably engage a shank of a headed screw 45 which threaded- 1y engagesa threaded opening 46, formed in the bar 37 below its recessed portion42. The longitudinal gauge bar 43 is maintained by engagement of itsslot 44 with the shank of the screw 45 so that its inner longitudinaledge is disposed against the inner wall 47 of the recess 42, to maintainthe outer longitudinal edge 4S of the bar 43 parallel to the inner edge22 of the arm 13. The bar 43 is provided with a notch 49 which opensoutwardly of its outer edge and which includes a transverse outer endportion.

Referring to Figure 2, the instrument is shown in conjunction with acorner of a partially iinished wall including rock lath strips 50 or thelike which are secured to a stud 51a. A wood ground or the like 51projects outwardly from the rock lath pieces 50 just above the oor leveland the spacing of its outer edges from the outer surface of the rocklaths 50 represents the thickness of the plaster to be applied over therock lath. A conventional corner piece 52 is applied to the cornerformed by the rock lath pieces 50 and the bead 53 of said corner piece52 must be disposed at the apex of the wood ground 51. The instrument 10is employed for accomplishing the setting of the corner piece 52. Forthis use of the instrument, the slide bar 37 is adjusted and tightenedin the channel 36 so that the one-eighth inch graduation thereof locatednext to the zero graduation of the scale 41 will align with the indexmark 42 to position the outer edge 48 of the longitudinal bar 43 spacedthe same distance from the outer arm edge as the inner edge 19 of thearm 12 is spaced from the outer edge 14. The frame or square 11 can thenbe placed with the edges 19 and 48 against the two rock lath pieces 50forming right angle, and when so disposed, the axis of the center gaugebar 27 will align with the apex of the wall members 50. Assuming thatthe wood ground 51 extends three-eighths of an inch out from the wallmembers 50, the center gauge bar 27 is adjusted until its three-eighthinch graduation 31 aligns with the index mark 32 and is secured by thefastening 29 in this position. The two sides of the notch 33 will thenbe in vertical alignment with the two edges of the wood ground 51. Ifpreferred, the sides of the notch 33 may he thus aligned with the edgesof the wood ground 51 by positioning the instrument 10 as previouslydescribed and just above the wood ground 51 and by aligning the sides ofthe notch 33 with the edges of the wood ground without the use of thescale 31. The bead 53 is then positioned in engagement with the apex ofthe notch 33 and the sides of the corner piece 52 are then secured byfastenings 54. This is iirst accomplished near the wood ground 51 afterwhich the instrument is moved upwardly about a foot and the operationrepeated at foot intervals from bottom to top of the wall, foraccurately locating the bead 53 vertically and directly above the cornerof the wood ground. Much time can be saved in the use of the instrument10 in this manner to accurately locate the corner piece 52.

The instrument 10 can also be employed as illustrated in Figure l forsimultaneously positioning two corner pieces 52 and 52a, as where anarchway opening is being formed in a wall.

arsenite When thus employed, the slide bar 37 is adjusted to thethree-eighth inch graduation of its scale 41 and secured in thisposition by the fastening 39, still assuming that the wood groundprojects three-eighths of an inch from the rock lath 50. The fastening45 is then loosened for adjusting the longitudinal bar 43 longitudinallyof the shorterl frame arm 13 and said fastening 45 is thereaftertightened when the notch 49 has its apex located directly over the othercorner of the ground 51 and so that the bead 53a may be seated in thenotch 49 to position said bead in vertical alignment with the secondwood ground corner. The operation as previously described is thenrepeated except that each time that the instrument 10 is positioned indifferent vertical positions, both corner pieces 52 and 52a are securedby the fastenings 54. Thus, as illustrated in Figure l, the gaugeinstrument 10 may be simultaneously utilized for positioning two cornerpieces.

The levels 23 and 24 are employed to properly position the frame 11 in ahorizontal position when the instrument is used for positioning eitherone or two corner pieces.

Various modications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An instrument of the character described comprising a frame includingan elongated arm having an elongated inner straight edge adapted to bedisposed flush against a vertical Wall member and with said arm disposedin a horizontal plane, a gauge bar slidably supported by said frame anddisposed with its axis forming an oblique angle with said straight edge,means limiting sliding movement of said gauge bar in directions onlyaxially thereof, said gauge bar having a notched inner end the sides ofwhich form a right angle, one of which is disposed parallel to saidstraight edge, and means adjustably clamping said gauge bar to the framewith said side of the notch set back a predetermined distance from saidstraight edge for locating the apex of said notch a predetermineddistance outwardly of a corner of the wall member against which saidstraight edge is disposed, said apex of the notch providing a seat forthe bead of a corner piece to position the corner piece bead apredetermined distance outwardly from the corner of said wall member,said frame including a second arm disposed at a right angle to the firstmentioned arm and combining therewith to form a square, said gauge barbeing disposed at the apex of said square and intersecting the angleformed by said arms, said second arm including a part having an innerstraight edge adapted to abut another wall member disposed at a rightangle to the wall member engaged by said straight edge of the rst arm,said straight edges having adjacent ends spaced from the notched innerend of the gauge bar, said straight edges being disposed in planesintersecting at a point in alignment with the axis of said gauge bar,said second arm having an elongated bar disposed longitudinally thereofhaving one longitudinal edge forming said straight edge of the secondarm, said longitudinal bar having a notch opening outwardly of saidstraight edge including a side disposed transversely of the longitudinalbar and facing toward an inner end thereof, and means slidably connectedto said second arm and movable trailsversely thereof on which saidlongitudinal bar is supported for adjustment transversely of the secondarm to position the apex of the notch thereof a distance from a cornerof the last mentioned wall member corresponding to the spacing of thenotch of said gauge bar from the corner of the rst mentioned wallmember, whereby the bead of a second corner piece may be seated in thenotch of said longitudinal bar and positioned thereby a desired distancefrom the last mentioned wall member corner.

2. An instrument as in claim l, and means slidably supporting saidlongitudinal bar for sliding movement relatively to said aforementionedmeans in a direction longitudinally of the second arm for varying thespacing between said corner bead engaging notches.

3. An instrument as in claim 2, said frame including spirit levelsdisposed coplanar therewith and having theii` longitudinal axes disposedlongitudinally and transversely of said arms for indicating when saidframe is disposed in a horizontal plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,549,947 Wolfe Aug. 18, 1925 2,269,266 Hammerl Jan. 6, 1942 2,314,927Farrington Mar. 30, 1943 2,420,350 Brown May 13, 1947

